Originally created 11/20/05

NHL roundup



NEW YORK - Michael Nylander's ankle was sore enough to keep him off the practice ice one day after he and the New York Rangers were thumped in North Carolina.

But Friday's aches turned into Saturday's glory as Nylander and his linemates rebounded from a dismal performance and turned the tables on the high-flying Carolina Hurricanes.

Nylander had a goal and three assists, and Jaromir Jagr set up three goals to lead the Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the Hurricanes on Saturday that gave New York a home-and-home split.

"I felt good this morning," Nylander said. "It was fun and it worked out well."

Martin Straka, who also missed practice Friday because of a groin injury, added a goal, as did Michal Rozsival and Petr Prucha.

Carolina lost for just the second time in 13 games and had a five-game road-winning streak snapped. Eric Staal, Niklas Nordgren and Justin Williams scored for the banged-up Hurricanes (14-4-1), who rallied late with two goals.

"With a team like that, that's that hardworking and that well coached you know that they're going to continue to come at you," said Rangers goalie Kevin Weekes, who made 28 saves. "We were trying to stem the tide, we didn't want to give them any opportunity to get back in."

New York went 3-for-5 with the man advantage after not netting a power-play goal in eight consecutive chances. They were 2-for-18 in the previous three games and lost the past two to finish the longest trip of the season 3-2.

"I thought they worked a lot harder," Carolina defenseman Mike Commodore said. "Their puck pressure, right from the first faceoff, they were on us right away. I don't think they had that when we were playing in Raleigh."

The top line of Jagr, Nylander and Straka made up for a rough night in Carolina on Thursday to pace the Rangers' sixth home win in 10 games. The trio recorded just one point - a goal in the 5-1 loss - and were a minus-8, but they combined for a goal and six assists in the rematch.

"We scored on chances we got. That was the key," Nylander said. "It was important to come back and show that we could play a good game."

Straka gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead just 4:14 in by squeezing a shot in between Martin Gerber's left leg and the right post after taking a pass from Jagr.

But Staal, who injured his back in Thursday's victory, showed no effects when he stole the puck in the Carolina zone and raced up ice on a 2-on-1 with Erik Cole. Staal let the puck go from the left circle to tie it 1-1 at 10:34 of the first period.

Staal celebrated his 14th goal of the season in his 100th NHL game.

PENGUINS RETURN TO LINEUP: Goalie Sebastien Caron and center Shane Endicott returned to Pittsburgh and defenseman Sergei Gonchar was moved to the injured reserve list.

Gonchar missed his third consecutive game with a strained groin.